OSHA Inspection: FAIRMOUNT CHEMICAL CO., INC.

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Sep 10, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Sep 10, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Mar 10, 1998

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Sep 10, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Sep 10, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Sep 10, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Sep 10, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Nov 10, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,250

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Dec 8, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Mar 10, 1998

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,625 Reduced

Hazardous substances E101

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which
were free from
recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious
physical harm to the
employee in that employees were exposed to the hazards of exposure to fire
and uncontrolled
decomposition of hardener#3,(r,r'-diazido stilbene disodium sulfonate
water hydrate) during
its manufacture.
a)117-135 Blanchard Street, Newark, Building 23, dryer ND#3
On 3/25/97, Fairmount Chemical continued the process of drying hardener#3,
in dryer nd#3
in building #23.
An uncontrolled decomposition occurred inside the dryer which totally
demolished the dryer
and building #23.
Feasible and accepted means of abatement to materially reduce the hazard
to employees of
fire and uncontrollable decomposition during dryer operations include
amongst other means
the following:
1)  Conduct complete and thorough chemical stability and reactivity
testing in order to
identify and evaluate the hazards and potential hazards of all aspects of
the manufacturing on
hardener#3.
2)  Fully evaluate using methods commonly utilized in the industry, the
effects of any
modifications in the manufacturing process of hardener#3 on the safe
production and process
ing of hardener3#.
3)  Select and utilize a dryer for the drying of hardener#3 that is
designed to withstand and
or releast excess internal pressure generated should an uncontrolled
decomposition of
hardener#3 occur.
4)  Operate the dryer used to dry hardener#3 in a safe manner (i.e.) in a
manner that fully
accounts for the potential and actual physical hazards of hardener#3 and
air
drying of same.
Specifically special attention should be paid to controllers and
monitoring of the temperature
inside the dryers during the drying of hardener#3.
This must also include:
A)  Following the dryer manufacturers recommendations for preventative and
periodic
maintenance.
B)  Ensuring emergency procedures for process upset are established and
implemented.
C)  Utilization of conductive filter bags during the drying of hardener#3.
D)  Installing redundant temperature sensing devices in accordance with
prudent engineering
design in strategically designated areas of the dryer.
E)  Ensuring that temperature monitoring be designed to annunciate upset
conditions to allowfor employee evacuation or process shutdown.
Violation occurred on or about 3/25/97

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Sep 10, 1998

Issued

Sep 23, 1997

Abate by

Sep 10, 1998